PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a group of symptoms that appear due to an imbalance in a woman’s hormones. It affects the ovaries. These are the tiny organs responsible for keeping all of a woman’s eggs safe.
However, it can also affect other parts of the body. PCOS is a rather common condition that affects many women of childbearing age. If not treated, it can sometimes cause serious health problems.
Ovulation is the time when an adult egg leaves an ovary. It’s released to be fertilized by a male sperm. If the egg is not fertilized, it leaves the body during your period.
There is not enough hormone present for ovulation to occur in a woman. If ovulation does not occur, the ovaries may produce several small fluid-filled sacs called cysts. These cysts produce hormones that are called androgens.
Androgens are generally hormones that occur at high levels in males, and females typically contain these at low levels. Females with PCOS typically have higher quantities of androgen. This would cause more issues with a woman’s period. It contributes to many of the symptoms of PCOS.
What is meant by PCOS?
PCOS is an abbreviation that generally refers to polycystic ovary syndrome, which is ordinarily a pretty frequent condition that affects the way a woman’s ovaries function. A woman with PCOS can often experience various symptoms of disorganized periods and excessive hair growth, among many others; it often affects fertility and even health at large.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is an ailment in which your ovaries, responsible for the release of eggs, produce excessive quantities of hormones and disrupt a hormonal balance. If you have polycystic ovary syndrome, your ovaries produce more hormones called androgens than they normally should. This disrupts your reproductive hormone balance.
As a result, people with PCOS are likely to have irregular periods, missed periods, and unknown or impossible ovulation. Under an ultrasound, small follicle cysts, fluid-filled sacs holding immature eggs, may be seen on your ovaries since you do not ovulate. Even though it’s called “polycystic,” you don’t have to have cysts on your ovaries to have PCOS. Ovarian cysts are not harmful or painful.
PCOS is a leading cause of infertility in women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB). PCOS can also increase your risk for other health conditions. Your doctor may be helpful with PCOS as they look over your symptoms and your desire to become pregnant.
At what age does PCOS appear?
PCOS can develop in women and people assigned female at any point after puberty. For most, the initial diagnosis is typically 10 to 20 years after puberty and often coincides with attempts to conceive. You might be at higher risk if you are overweight or if someone in your family has polycystic ovary syndrome.
Types of PCOS
Some scientists consider dividing PCOS into kinds based on symptoms and hormone levels. Here are a couple of such types:
Some types are classified into non-hyperandrogenic PCOS, or type D. In this type of PCOS, ovulation problems may lead to irregular periods, missed periods, and cysts in the ovaries. However, your male hormone is within normal limits.
Another one is ovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome, better known as type C. They have a higher level of male hormones and cysts in their ovaries.
- Complete PCOS (type A): You have high male hormone levels, problems with ovulation, and cysts within your ovaries.
- Non-PCO PCOS (type B): You have high male hormone levels and problems with ovulation.
What are the causes of PCOS?
We do not know what causes PCOS. Genetic tendency plays some part. Other factors also play an important role, particularly obesity, in causing Pcos:
1. Overproduction of male hormones called androgens
High levels of androgens prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs, resulting in the absence of menstrual periods. Irregular ovulation can result in the development of tiny, fluid-filled sacs on your ovaries. High levels of androgen can cause acne and excessive hair in women and other assigned females at birth.
2. Insulin resistance
When insulin rises, your ovaries produce and release male hormones, or androgens. High levels of male hormones prevent you from ovulating and trigger other symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Your body uses insulin to make glucose (sugar) accessible and convert it into fuel. In the case of insulin resistance, your body cannot use insulin properly, which sets you up with high sugar levels in your blood.
High glucose levels and diabetes are not solely a consequence of insulin resistance, but insulin resistance is actually the cause of diabetes, and it can also lead to obesity or overweight syndrome. If your blood sugar is good, but your insulin level is high, then that might mean you have insulin resistance.
3. Low-grade inflammation
Most women with PCOS have chronic low-grade inflammation. Your doctor can measure your blood by testing for C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells. Those tests can measure how much of this inflammation exists within your body.
4. Latent causation of PCOS
A couple of websites use the term to describe PCOS when no cause is apparent. That certainly applies to polycystic ovary syndrome in general. Scientists do not know what causes the condition. They think both your genetic makeup and the environment may contribute to the problem.
5. Pill-induced or post-pill PCOS
The pill and other hormonal forms of birth control do not cause PCOS. Even if you stop taking this type of birth control, you will begin experiencing periods that are not regular or even symptoms related to PCOS for a period.
Hormonal birth control may mask the signs of polycystic ovary syndrome. You might not know if you have it unless you stop using your birth control. Doctors usually prescribe hormonal birth control to control the symptoms of PCOS.
Symptoms of PCOS
The symptoms can differ in each individual. The most common symptoms of PCOS are missed periods, irregular periods, infrequent periods, or periods that are too long.
Other symptoms of PCOS are:
- Hair loss
- Excessive hair growth on the body and face
- Greasy skin
- Acne
- Darker skin color
- Small lumps on the skin
- Weight gain PCOS belly
- Ovarian cysts
How to diagnose PCOS?
Your doctor will want to know your medical history, as well as any symptoms you have. A physical exam will also be done, and a pelvic exam will very likely form part of this. This test examines the health of your reproductive organs, inside and outside of your body.
Some polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms are similar to symptoms created by other medical conditions. This can also mean that you’ll want to undergo some exams, for example:
- Ultrasound with sound waves. This scan makes use of sound waves with a computer to create images of your blood vessels, tissues, and organs. This checkup assesses the size of the ovaries and looks for cysts. It can also inspect the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, as to its thickness.
- Blood Tests These diagnose high levels of androgens and other hormones. Your doctor may also check your blood sugar. You can get a blood test to detect cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
Treatment of PCOS
- You should seek your doctor’s advice if you have irregular periods, difficulty conceiving, or lots of acne and excess hair growth.
- Some of the symptoms of PCOS can be reduced by changing your lifestyle. Healthy food, along with physical exercise, can put individuals on their way to weight loss as well as reduce their chances of getting type 2 diabetes.
- Birth control pills may also promote regular menstrual cycles, making symptoms less severe. Some other medications might also aid in treating conditions like acne or hirsutism, a condition associated with PCOS, where unwanted hair grows all over the body.
- In some cases of infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, lifestyle modifications, medication, and even surgery can trigger frequent ovulation. In vitro fertilization is still another possibility available, with many risks attached to it.
Conclusion
PCOS is a very common hormonal disorder affecting many women of childbearing age. Although PCOS is not curable, its symptoms can be relieved reasonably well with a combination of lifestyle modifications and medical therapies.
Early identification of problems is vital to reduce the risks of conditions such as infertility, insulin resistance, and heart disease.
Most women with PCOS can lead healthful lives and continue to improve their quality of life if they follow a good management plan, including healthy nutrition, adequate regular exercise, and proper medication. Develop a treatment plan in consultation with a healthcare provider to meet your specific needs.
Don’t Ignore the Symptoms—Learn How PCOS Can Affect Fertility, Skin, Weight, and More at Catholic Fating.
FAQ’s
1. Can I get pregnant if I have PCOS?
Women with PCOS can conceive, but conceiving may be a bit more challenging for them due to possible complications in ovulation. Lifestyle changes, medication, and some forms of assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization, may contribute to improving the chances of conception.
2. Am I at risk of developing ovarian cysts if I have PCOS?
Not really. Although it is named like that, not every woman with PCOS has ovarian cysts. The condition deals with hormonal imbalances that can affect other systems in the body.
3. Can PCOS be cured?
While there is no cure for PCOS, you may always control the symptoms well by making some lifestyle changes and medical treatments.
4. What leads to PCOS?
Although it’s not clear why PCOS happens, some key causes include increased levels of androgen, insulin resistance, genetics, and environmental factors.
5. How do doctors diagnose PCOS?
Doctors diagnose PCOS by obtaining a history, completing physical exams, conducting blood tests, and doing an ultrasound to check for cysts on the ovaries as well as hormone level tests.
